John Martin is the name of the top Pinot Noir of the three produced at Te Kairanga Winery in Martinborough each year. It’s named after the founder of Martinborough township and is a great Pinot Noir, which drinks well now but has a good eight to nine years of evolution up its vinous sleeve – and will unfold more in time, rewarding those who invest in cellaring it.

Winemaker John Kavanagh has breathed new life into the Te Kairanga Winery when he began in 2012. His broad winemaking experience at top wineries around the country (including Neudorf in Nelson) is strongly felt at TK today where his winemaking philosophy places a premium on the character of the site. The grapes are harvested block by block and vinified individually with punch-downs and gentle pressing with balanced oak followed by no fining or filtration, all of which expresses both varietal character and complexity along with the exploration of site.